Lyon training base.
The first-team players had just finished training for the day and were heading to the locker room in twos and threes, ready to change and go home.
Hollier, having finished her day's work, was also walking towards her office.
To prepare for tomorrow's Champions League Round of 16 match against Leeds United, Houllier has been working overtime for two or three hours almost every day during this period, unless he is leading the team in a match.
Tomorrow is the match day. Apart from the starting lineup not being announced yet, I have prepared everything I need to. There's no point in working overtime today.
So the French coach has already made up his mind.
I'm absolutely not working overtime today! I'll go back to the office, pack my things, and then go home to enjoy the delicious meal my wife has prepared!
But before he could even leave the training ground, his assistant Knicks' voice came from behind him.
"Girard, wait for me! I have something to tell you!"
Upon hearing the sound, Houllier not only didn't stand still and wait for the Knicks, but even quickened his pace.
At that moment, the veteran French coach had only one thought in his mind.
Nobody's going to make me work overtime today! I'm going home to eat the confit duck my wife prepared for lunch!
Houllier is sixty, but the Knicks are only in their early fifties. Before Houllier could even slip off the training field, the Knicks caught up.
Grabbing Hollier's sleeve, Knicks gasped, "Hey, Girard, why are you running?!"
Houllier, who had been pulled back, blinked innocently and turned to look at the Knicks: "Where did I run off to?"
"Brother, we've known each other for years," Knicks said speechlessly, pointing at Houllier's leg. "What was the difference between your speed just now and running? What's wrong? Aren't you afraid of having a heart attack now?"
"Stop with the nonsense." Hollier pulled his hand away from Knicks's, his round face full of displeasure at having to wait a few more minutes to eat the confit duck. "What's up?"
"Here!" Knicks handed the phone he was clutching tightly in his other hand to Houllier, his tone dismissive. "The latest news this afternoon suggests that our opponents are being a bit too arrogant."
Houllier took the phone; the screen displayed the analysis from L'Équipe, along with a photo of Li Shiguang and clips of his afternoon interview at the airport.
I took a quick look.
Houllier smiled slightly, said nothing, handed the phone back to the Knicks, and turned to continue walking out of the training facility.
Knicks took the phone, looking completely bewildered. He stood there for a moment, stunned, before catching up with Houllier and asking, "No, Girard, don't you have anything to say?"
"What's there to say?" Hollier said calmly. "It's just a media report."
The Knicks glanced at Li Shiguang's photo on their phone with disgust and growled angrily, "Hey! Did you even see that? He said in the interview that he would kill the series in the first round! That's incredibly disrespectful! If you ask me, let's not play any more defensive fast breaks tomorrow! This is our home court, let's just go all out and play an offensive game with them, and see who really kills the series!"
While the Knicks were excitedly gesturing and talking, Houllier maintained a smile and walked forward at a leisurely pace.
Until I heard what the Knicks said next.
Hollier gradually slowed down, and his expression became serious.
When Knicks finished speaking, he realized that Houllier had stopped and was standing there looking at him seriously.
Houllier's actions made the Knicks a little apprehensive.
More than a decade of cooperation.
The Knicks know Houllier's personality inside and out, and the fact that their partner is acting this way proves that there must have been something wrong with what they just said!
Before I could even ask a question.
Hollier, who had stopped, spoke first.
"Hey... Knicks, you're over fifty years old, how can you still be so impulsive at work?! Just because of one news report, we're going to change our already planned tactics?! How do you know what the news says is true?! After all these years, haven't you figured out the habits of these media outlets yet?"
“It’s not just one article…” Knicks muttered as he explained, “I’ve read many media outlets, and their reports are all similar. Li definitely said that in an interview!”
"Even if Li really said those things, so what!?" Houllier said angrily. "No matter what, Leeds United's strength on paper is stronger than ours, that's an objective fact! If we want to win this series, we must solidify our defense before we can talk about anything else!"
"What good is a beautiful game?! What we want is victory! We want to reach the Champions League quarterfinals! Who says defense lacks fighting spirit?!"
The Knicks were taken aback by Houllier's words, their cheeks flushing slightly.
really!
The decision to use a five-defender formation for counter-attacking tomorrow was made after nearly half a month of research by Houllier.
Even the Knicks themselves didn't expect this.
I can't believe I got carried away by a few news reports in the media and suddenly wanted to overturn the work I had done in the previous two weeks!
"And look at how you've gotten worked up right now, Knicks." Seeing that his old partner seemed to realize the problem, Houllier's tone softened. "This is very likely the ultimate purpose behind Lee's words in the interview. Once we're provoked, and then go all out and play an attacking game with them tomorrow, maybe the final outcome will really be as Lee said, with Leeds United killing the entire series in just one round!"
grass!
The Knicks are no longer inexperienced rookies.
Hollier's analysis is not without merit.
At this moment, a thought actually popped into the Knicks' mind: maybe what Houllier said was true, and the reason why Li Shiguang was so arrogant in the media might just be putting on a show for them.
In other words, Hollier was cunning enough to see through Li Shiguang's intentions at a glance.
Thankfully, Lyon's head coach is that old geezer Houllier, not me...
····
Li Shiguang was naturally unaware that a point he had inadvertently thought of had actually become a reality. Tomorrow, Houllier was indeed preparing to use a pure defensive system with five defenders to deal with the powerful attack of Leeds United.
After finishing work with Rivaldo, Li Shiguang had a good night's sleep. After dinner, he dragged the still resentful Simone and Rivaldo back to his room to quietly wait for the first few matches to start that night.
Tonight's four matches are Schalke 04 vs. Porto, Manchester United vs. Inter Milan, Roma vs. Real Madrid, and Olympiacos vs. Chelsea.
Without a doubt, the Manchester United vs. Inter Milan and Roma vs. Real Madrid matches are the most anticipated.
However, Li Shiguang, with a selfish motive, planned to watch the entire Manchester United vs. Inter Milan match at Old Trafford...
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